Briefs

December 15, 2005|STAFF REPORTS

VANDALIA

Three arrested in Lawless Park fight

Three people have been arrested in connection with a large fight that seriously injured one man and left two others injured late Monday. The arrested men are scheduled for arraignment today, a Cass County court official said Wednesday. Ricky Armstrong, 40, of Edwardsburg was upgraded from critical to serious condition Wednesday at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, the Cass County Sheriff's Office said. Armstrong was shot and beaten with a baseball bat in the melee at Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Newberg Township about 11 p.m. Monday, said Capt. Lyndon Parrish of the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Armstrong was part of a group of five friends who were involved in an altercation with another group of three men, Parrish said. Two other men in Armstrong's group were slightly injured. John Slone, 40, of Ashley, Ind., and Andrew Skibowski, 23, of Fort Wayne, were treated and released, Parrish said. DOWAGIAC

DNR to hold meetings on deer number goals

The Department of Natural Resources will hold a series of meetings around the state this winter to receive public input on deer population goals. The Southwest Management Unit meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Dale A. Lyons Building on the campus of Southwestern Michigan College. Information about the population goals for each Deer Management Unit can be found on the DNR's Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Written comments also may be sent to DNR Operations Service Centers until Jan. 20. Also, comments can be e-mailed to Deer_Goals@michigan.gov. ROSELAND

Council postpones officer decision

The Roseland Town Council will delay any disciplinary action it may take against an officer, Lt. Craig Toner, who was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of domestic battery. He has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. Town Council President Dorothy Snyder said Toner told the council he has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Last week, police Capt. Larry Miller, who is interim marshal, recommended to the council that Toner be reprimanded for "conduct unbecoming an officer" because of the incident in Elkhart involving Toner and his live-in girlfriend, Paula Fife. Fife was also arrested in connection with the incident. The town council met in executive session Wednesday to discuss the incident with Toner and Miller. Afterward, the board announced its decision during a special meeting. ELKHART

2 arrested in alleged counterfeit operation

Police apprehended two men connected with a counterfeiting operation this week. They are now looking for other possible suspects. Hugo Ubaldo, 36, of Elkhart, was arrested and charged with corrupt business influence and three counts of counterfeiting. Another suspect, a 44-year-old man from Goshen, was arrested in the alleged operation. The two were apprehended after police spotted Ubaldo leaving the Goshen man's residence in the 900 block of Michigan Street with newly made counterfeit documents. Police say they seized computers, software, and materials used to make counterfeit documents from the home. Both men are being held in Elkhart County Jail, where Ubaldo's bond is set at $15,000 and the other suspect's bond is not yet set.